Master Health, Ageing and Society (HAS)
For psychology students who want to contribute to healthy ageing
Society is ageing rapidly, with major consequences for older adults and for society as a whole. This raises new questions about (mental) health, resilience and well-being: how do people cope with loss and change? What helps prevent loneliness? Why does behaviour change sometimes succeed and sometimes fail, especially later in life? And how can we redesign our care systems to address these challenges?
Are you a psychology student who wants to look beyond the individual? Then the Master’s programme Health, Ageing and Society (HAS) is a strong next step.
Why HAS fits Psychology:
In this Master’s programme, you deepen and broaden your knowledge. In addition to psychological aspects of ageing, you will learn about the biological processes of ageing and how society and policy are organised. You will learn to approach health and ageing from individual, social and societal perspectives. Key themes include:
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Stress, coping and resilience in older adults
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Motivation and behaviour change in later life
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Social relationships and loneliness among older adults
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Biology of ageing
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Organisation of (inter)national health care systems
You will develop a broader perspective than “symptom → treatment” and learn how to promote well-being through prevention, interventions and policy.
Learning through co-creation
What makes HAS unique is its strong focus on co-creation: you develop knowledge and solutions together with the people concerned. For example, you will work with older adults, health care professionals, municipalities or societal organisations on current real-world challenges.
This way, you not only learn about health and ageing, but also how to design interventions or policies that are grounded in practice and truly effective.
Practice-oriented and research-driven
You will further develop your research skills (both qualitative and quantitative), strengthen essential soft skills such as presenting, giving and receiving feedback, leadership, negotiation and debating, and learn to think innovatively.
Career opportunities
With a degree in HAS, you can pursue careers in, among others:
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Research and knowledge institutions
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Public health and prevention (e.g. municipal health services or local governments)
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Health care and welfare organisations
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Policy, consultancy and health care innovation (e.g. health insurers, ministries, consultancy firms)
Ready to make an impact?
Do you want to use your background in psychology to contribute to one of today’s most pressing societal challenges? Then Health, Ageing and Society is the Master’s programme for you.
Visit one of our information events (Master’s Open Day, Experience Day) or try a Student for a Day:
Innovate and improve the future of our ageing society – Leiden University
Find more information about the programme, curriculum and admission requirements here:
Health, Ageing and Society (MSc) – Leiden University
